Eight bowlers are two games away from making history at the first-ever World Bowls Series (WBS) Finals at cluBarham, New South Wales, Australia.
A big second day of action on the two canopy-covered greens where 24 world class players have been doing battle has seen the four semi-finalists locked in for both the coveted men’s and women’s singles titles.
Eight countries will be represented in the knockout rounds as the best in the business make the final push to have their names engraved in history as first on the honours board in this brand-new competition, win a share of the total prize money of $29,000 and of course platinum WBS ranking points.
The players have all earned their place through WBS rankings from 30 sanctioned events or major championship performances this season and the atmosphere as the finish approaches could not be more electric.
The finishing positions in the sectional rounds has come down to game points, sets won and even set points keeping tournament director Mark Cowan on his toes.
Australia’s Dawn Hayman and Aidan Takarua from New Zealand are the standout performers having won all five of their group games to chalk up a maximum 15 points and lead their respective groups.
It was also a big moving day for England international colleagues Nicole Rogers and Emily Kernick who took first and second places in their section to make the semi-finals – their group being decided on the last bowl of the round-robin matches.
Rogers took the honours to top the table with three out of three wins beating Kernick by the narrowest of margins 7-6, 7-7, Nural Akyanti Binti Jamil, of Malaysia, on a tiebreak, and Australia’s Cassandra Millerick 2-0, while Kernick returned winning scorecards over Millerick – also on a tiebreak – and Emma Firyana Saroli, of Malaysia, 9-4, 7-3.
The semi-final draw sees Hayman face Kernick, while Rogers takes on the challenge of Canada’s Kelly McKerihen who finished runner-up to Hayman.
In the men’s singles, wins for Ireland’s Gary Kelly over Sam Tolchard, of England, and Cohen Litfin from Australia – Litfin having recorded three out of three wins on the opening day of the event – propelled him into first place in Section 1.
He will now play his Australian Open pairs winning partner Australia’s Corey Wedlock who finished second in Section 1 behind Takarua who himself lines up against Litfin who hung on to second place in his group – just pipping Wales’ Ross Owen to the knockout stages by half a point – yes, the margins are that close. Just look at the result when Owen played inaugural WBS No 1 Australia’s Aron Sherriff – they tied their two sets 5-5 and then Sherriff got over the line 2-1!
Semi-finals take place tomorrow (Friday) starting at 12 noon AEDT with the men’s semi-finals at 12 noon and women’s at 2 pm, followed by the grand finals at 4.15 with the men’s final first and the event culminating with the women’s showpiece at 6.15 pm.
SECTIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Results show finishing position, game points, sets won and set points in the way they were decided.
MEN’S SINGLES
SECTION 1: 1. Gary Kelly (Ireland) 9 pts (6 sets won); 2 Cohen Litfin (Australia) 9 (5/5.50 set points); 3. Ross Owen (Wales) 9 (4/5); 4. Sam Tolchard (England) 6 (6/6.50); 5. Dominic McVittie (England) 6 (3/3); 6. Aron Sherriff (Australia) 6 (2).
SECTION 2: 1. Aiden Takarua (New Zealand) 15; 2. Corey Wedlock (Australia) 9 (6); 3. Lee Schraner (Australia) 9 (4); 4. Jack McShane (Australia) 6; 5. Izzat Dzukeple (Malaysia) 3 (2); 6. Daniel Davies Jnr (Wales) 3.
WOMEN’S SINGLES
SECTION 1: 1. Dawn Hayman (Australia) 15; 2. Kelly McKerihen (Canada) 12; 3. Cheryl Chan (Hong Kong China) 6; 4. Olivia Cartwright 6; 5. Selina Goddard 3; 6. Stef Branfield (England) 0.
SECTION 2: 1. Nicole Rogers (England) 12; 2. Emily Kernick (England) 9 (6); 3. Cassandra Millerick (Australia) 9 (5); 4. Kelsey Cottrell (Australia) 6 (5); 5. Nural Alyani Binti Jamil (Malaysia) 6 (4); 6. Emma Firyana Saroji (Malaysia) 0.
FURTHER INFORMATION
How to watch:
Fox Sports (507) and Kayo Sports
Draws and results: https://tinyurl.com/2r4tmmvn Competitors: https://tinyurl.com/2p8y5rke WBS rankings: https://worldbowlsseries.com/ranking/
Finals day tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/world-bowls-series-grand-final-2025/tickets
Report compiled by Ceris Hewlings, World Bowls media officer, ceris.hewlings@keypublishing.com
